Submitted By: Tom Duncan
presenter
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2026-2 to accept a Public Transit Grant Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Ocala for operational funding for the Ocala/Marion County Public Transit System, SunTran, in the amount of $796,934
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Fiscally Sustainable
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On September 19, 2023, the City of Ocala (City) and Marion County (County) entered into an interlocal agreement, establishing their respective funding commitments of local funds to operate SunTran. The agreement states that the percentages of support between the City and the County may vary from year to year based on service changes identified in the Transit Development Plan. For Fiscal Year 2026, the percentages will be 75 percent for the City and 25 percent for the County.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annually provides grant funding to communities that will pay operating assistance of up to 50 percent for fixed-route public transit systems. To be awarded funding, the City must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT. The City has been awarded grant funding of $796,934, pending approval of the PTGA. This grant funding amount requires a local match of $796,934 to be provided by the City and the County. The City and County are collectively providing an additional $12,000 to the match, which can be used for travel and training, as this expense is not reimbursable under the PTGA Agreement. This brings the total local match to $808,934.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The funding will be used toward the daily operation of the Ocala/Marion County Public Transportation System/SunTran. This includes, but is not limited to, paying RATP Dev to run the daily operations of SunTran, staff salaries for working on the federal and state grants that fund SunTran, fuel, utilities for the SunTran Administration & Maintenance Facility, operating supplies, and other related expenses.
Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City budgeted $606,700 as its local match in account 494-381-000-000-19-38091 in Fiscal Year 2025-26. Operating expenses are budgeted in accounting string 494-050-451-544-54*.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This Agreement will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2026-2
A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT, G3G54, BETWEEN THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE CITY OF OCALA FOR OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR THE OCALA/MARION COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, SUNTRAN, IN THE AMOUNT OF $796,934
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annually provides grant funding to communities that will pay operating assistance up to 50% for fixed route public transit systems; and
WHEREAS, in order to be awarded the funding, the City must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT; and
WHEREAS, the City will receive $796,934, pending approval of the PTGA, which requires a $796,934 local match; and
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2023, the City and Marion County entered into an Interlocal Agreement to establish their respective funding commitments of necessary local funds to operate SunTran; and
WHEREAS, although the percentages of support between the City and Marion County may vary from year to year based on service changes identified in the Transit Development Plan, the percentages for Fiscal Year 2025-26 will remain the same at 75% for the City and 25% for Marion County; and
WHEREAS, the local commitments for this PTGA Grant have been allocated by both the City and Marion County in their respective Fiscal Year 2025-26 budgets; and
WHEREAS, the FDOT PTGA funds are necessary to operate SunTran; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement shall commence upon its full execution and shall expire on June 30, 2027.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, in regular session duly assembled, that the City of Ocala accepts Public Transportation Grant Agreement G3G54.
This resolution adopted this ______ day of ______________________, 2025.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Kristen M. Dreyer
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney